This (behaviour of Iblís) is like that (which is told in the following story), how a certain man saw a thief in the house and ran after him.

این بدان ماند که شخصی دزد دید ** در وثاق اندر پی او می‏دوید

He ran after him (the length of) two or three fields, till the fatigue threw him into a sweat.

تا دو سه میدان دوید اندر پیش ** تا در افگند آن تعب اندر خویش‏

At the moment when, rushing on, he had come so near to him that he might spring upon him and seize him,2795

اندر آن حمله که نزدیک آمدش ** تا بدو اندر جهد دریابدش‏

The second thief cried out to him, “Come, that you may see these signs of calamity.

دزد دیگر بانگ کردش که بیا ** تا ببینی این علامات بلا

Be quick and turn back, O man of (prompt) action, that you may see (how) very pitiable (is) the state of things here.”

زود باش و باز گرد ای مرد کار ** تا ببینی حال اینجا زار زار

He (the householder) said (to himself), “Maybe a thief is yonder: if I do not return at once, this (fate) will befall me.

گفت باشد کان طرف دزدی بود ** گر نگردم زود این بر من رود

He may lay hands upon my wife and child, (and in that case) how would it profit me to bind this thief (whom I am pursuing)?

در زن و فرزند من دستی زند ** بستن این دزد سودم کی کند

This Moslem is calling me in kindness: unless I return quickly, repentance will befall (me).”2800

این مسلمان از کرم می‏خواندم ** گر نگردم زود پیش آید ندم‏

In (confident) hope of the compassion of that well-disposed (friend), he left the thief and again set off (in another direction).

بر امید شفقت آن نیک خواه ** دزد را بگذاشت باز آمد به راه‏

“O good friend,” said he, “what is the matter? By whose hand (violence) is this lamentation and outcry of yours (caused)?”

گفت ای یار نکو احوال چیست ** این فغان و بانگ تو از دست کیست‏

“Look here,” said (the other). “See the thief's footprints! The pimping thief has gone this way. [ “Look here,” said (the other). “See the thief's footprints! The thief whose wife is for hire (who prostitutes his wife to other men) has gone this way.]

گفت اینک بین نشان پای دزد ** این طرف رفته ست دزد زن بمزد

Look at the cuckold thief's footprints! Follow him by means of these marks and traces.”

نک نشان پای دزد قلتبان ** در پی او رو بدین نقش و نشان‏

He answered, “O fool, what are you telling me? Why, I had (as good as) caught him,2805

گفت ای ابله چه می‏گویی مرا ** من گرفته بودم آخر مر و را

(But) at your cry I let the thief go. I deemed you, ass (as you are), a (reasonable) man.

دزد را از بانگ تو بگذاشتم ** من تو خر را آدمی پنداشتم‏

What silly gabble and nonsense is this, O fellow? I (had) found the reality: what (use to me) is the clue?”

این چه ژاژست و چه هرزه ای فلان ** من حقیقت یافتم چه بود نشان‏

He replied, “I am giving you a clue to the real (thing). This is the clue; I am acquainted with the reality.”

گفت من از حق نشانت می‏دهم ** این نشان است از حقیقت آگهم‏

He (the householder) said, “You are an artful knave or else you are a fool; nay, you are a thief and cognisant of this affair.

گفت طراری تو یا خود ابلهی ** بلکه تو دزدی و زین حال آگهی‏

I was (on the point of) dragging my adversary along, (when) you let him escape, saying (to me), ‘Here are (his) traces.’”2810

خصم خود را می‏کشیدم من کشان ** تو رهانیدی و را کاینک نشان‏

You speak of (external) relations, (but) I transcend (all) relations. In union (with God) where are signs or evidences?

تو جهت گو من برونم از جهات ** در وصال آیات کو یا بینات‏

The man that is debarred (from the Essence) sees the (Divine) action (as proceeding) from the Attributes: he that has lost the Essence is in (confined to) the Attributes.